Shenzhen Houses

Shenzen, China

2005 -

Each of the five Houses in Shenzhen is designed as a unique luxury hillside residence, with the approach to program varying for each house while maintaining a common design approach. The houses range in size from 600 to 1,000 square meters, and their overall height and number of floors is dictated by the siting of each house. The project brief required the creation of a unique residential neighborhood that maintains formal balance with its mountain environment, and the siting and design of each house maximizes privacy and views while minimizing impact to the site.

The site is characterized by a steep rolling landscape of mountains and valleys, and all five houses are situated on a steep hillside and oriented along an east-west axis, which maximizes views to the south while maintaining east-west exposure. All five houses are approached from the north, where the garage and driveway are located, through a large formal foyer.

Progression through each house leads from an opaque northern façade to a glazed southern façade, where terraces and a pool are oriented to offer optimal exposure to the sun and views to the bay below.

A large double-height living room, situated to offer the best views to the south and east, function as the centerpiece for each house. The dining spaces and kitchen are located adjacent to the living room to complete the public core. The bedrooms are located on one or two higher floors and separated from the public spaces to allow privacy, with the master bedroom enjoying the most privacy and best views. A family room is typically located adjacent to the bedrooms, providing an intimate living space. The lower floors and basement house recreation rooms and service spaces. Exterior spaces are integrated with the building structure as balconies and terraces along the southern façades, with overhangs and canopies protecting the outdoor spaces from sun and rain and allowing year-round use. Each of the five Houses in Shenzhen is designed as a unique luxury hillside residence, with the approach to program varying for each house while maintaining a common design approach. The houses range in size from 600 to 1,000 square meters, and their overall height and number of floors is dictated by the siting of each house. The project brief required the creation of a unique residential neighborhood that maintains formal balance with its mountain environment, and the siting and design of each house maximizes privacy and views while minimizing impact to the site.

The site is characterized by a steep rolling landscape of mountains and valleys, and all five houses are situated on a steep hillside and oriented along an east-west axis, which maximizes views to the south while maintaining east-west exposure. All five houses are approached from the north, where the garage and driveway are located, through a large formal foyer.

Progression through each house leads from an opaque northern façade to a glazed southern façade, where terraces and a pool are oriented to offer optimal exposure to the sun and views to the bay below.

A large double-height living room, situated to offer the best views to the south and east, function as the centerpiece for each house. The dining spaces and kitchen are located adjacent to the living room to complete the public core. The bedrooms are located on one or two higher floors and separated from the public spaces to allow privacy, with the master bedroom enjoying the most privacy and best views. A family room is typically located adjacent to the bedrooms, providing an intimate living space. The lower floors and basement house recreation rooms and service spaces. Exterior spaces are integrated with the building structure as balconies and terraces along the southern façades, with overhangs and canopies protecting the outdoor spaces from sun and rain and allowing year-round use.